Women's stories identify critical needs on Cape

Thursday

May 10, 2018 at 3:00 AMMay 10, 2018 at 9:25 AM

By Nancy Ayotte

The women spoke of searching for housing on Cape Cod — some in the past, some ongoing — about rentals way beyond their means, about squeezing in with relatives, friends, maybe sleeping in their cars, with no secure place to call their own. They spoke about how this insecurity sabotages their efforts to work, train and reach for their dreams.

This was a hearing in March at Cape Cod Community College before the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. The 50 or so women and a few men testified about how climbing the hill to security for women is steepened by the need for child care, public transportation, job-training opportunities, lack of substance abuse and mental health treatment. Trauma and family stress can intensify that need, they said. The women spoke of how state regulations designed to help often undermine them by pulling out prematurely at any sign of their success.

What underlies this epidemic is both obvious and hidden — seasonal houses, dark and empty in the off-season, unaffordable in any season to most year-rounders, are more prevalent on the Cape than in the rest of the state as a whole.

The commission heard testimony that the uneven power of women in abusive relationships is an even darker force. Once a woman flees the abuse, her chief challenge is to find a safe, affordable place to live — difficult even for couples with two incomes. Any effort to achieve, thrive and grow must first be anchored in a safe place to live.

The inequality of women is a major cause of homelessness among women, the commission was told. The men they leave often still have a job, retain the home and often have no responsibility for the day-to-day care of their dependent-age children. Or if it is the man who leaves, the woman may be in a home with the children but without his income to afford to stay there.

The impact of the messages by these women this day carried an energy, sense of mission and an insight into how all these elements link together, said commission Vice Chair Mary-dith Tuitt. She said she hopes for a follow-up hearing on Cape Cod soon to focus on solutions.

And in pursuit of solutions, Tuitt urged wide attendance at the Statehouse in Boston on May 16, Advocacy Day, where state, county and other elected officials and advocates will speak before the commission on the status of women and advocate for much needed legislation to bring improved housing security and opportunities to Cape Cod and across the state. Tuitt said the commission uses the information it gathers to lay out legislative priorities for the coming session. Registration to attend the hearing is available online by searching Massachusetts Advocacy Day May 16, 2018.

— Nancy Ayotte of Centerville is a retired social worker.

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